I Henry R. Thomas, of the county of Kanawha and the state of West Virginia
do make, declare and publish this for my last will and testement, revoking
all other wills or codocils, that may have been made by me hereafter. 1st
I desire my body to be buried in a decent and christian manner without
ostintation or unnecessary expense. 2nd I desire all my just debts to be
honorably and punctually paid. 3rd It is my wish that my wife and my children
to wit, George, William, Lilly, Mary, Oscar, Fannie, occupy and enjoy the
proceeds of that part of my real estate known as the Betsey Thomas Farm until
the youngest of the said children arrives at the age of twenty one years,
unless it would be clearly to their interest to sell the same prior to said
period, in which event my executor herinafter named shall be authorized to
sell said land, and divide the proceeds of it's sale between my said wife
and her six children herinbefore mentioned. It is my wish that all my land
on the upper side of Smiths Creek, up to the line of the Betsey Thomas tract
be included in the tract or parcel of land which I have herin willed to my
wife and her six children as before stated. 4th It is my wish that, that
portion of my land lying below Smith Creek and running up to the old Betsey
Thomas line be rented out until the youngest of the six children before mentioned
becomes of age, and then divided equally between Elizabeth Thomas, Emily
Thomas, and the children of Isabella Eastwood, the three last named are my
children by my first marriage. 5th It is my wish that the tract of twenty
two acres lying on Smiths Creek, which I bought for taxes be sold unless
the former owner I hereof should come forward and pay up all the taxes which
I have paid therin, in which event it is my wish that the said land be given
up to the said owners, but if sold I desire the proceeds thereof equally
divided between my eight living children and the children of my deceased
daughter Isabella Eastwood, my executor is authorized to sell the same. 6th
I bequeath to my son William the young bay mare, which he now claims as his
own. 7th I desire all my household and kitchen furniture remain in the posession
of my wife Margaret Jane Thomas and the six children herinbefore first named
until the youngest of the six children arrive at the age of twenty one years,
and then sold and the proceeds equally divided between my said wife and and
the said six children, if it should be in the interest of my said wife and
children that the said property be sold before the majority of said youngest
child then my executor is hereby authorized to sell the same and divide the
proceeds thereof between my said wife and said six children. It is my wish
that the residue of my horses, all my stock of cattle and hogs, together
with my farming utensils remain as they now are, for the use of my said wife
and my said six children, and that they use and enjoy the same until the
youngest children arrive at the age of twenty one years, at which time I
desire the said property to be sold by my executor and the proceeds equally
divided between my said wife and said six children. The last named property
may be sold under the same contingency specified with reference to the other
property bequeathed to my said wife and said six children, I hereby constitute
and appoint my son George Thomas and Lorenzo Griffith the executors of this
my last will and testement. It is my wish that the rents of that parcel of
land lying below Smiths Creek and herein before mentioned be appropriated
to the payment of the taxes on the residue of my estate, so far as the same
may go. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.